AJC Attended Hanukkah Celebration Hosted by Azerbaijan Embassy in Washington

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Dec 15, 2016, 10:03 ET

NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC CEO David Harris issued the following statement:

A media report suggesting that AJC was "one of four major Jewish groups" refusing to attend an event held in Washington by the Embassy of Azerbaijan -- because of the venue at a Trump-owned hotel -- is untrue. AJC did, in fact, attend.

While I could not be in Washington yesterday to participate personally, of course we would want AJC to be represented due to our respect for the host -- the Embassy of Azerbaijan.

As I know from many visits, Azerbaijan is a country that has extended a welcome mat to the Jewish people since time immemorial and, as illustrated by Prime Minister Netanyahu's recent visit to Baku, has been a close friend and partner of Israel. Azerbaijan has also played a key role at important moments in advancing U.S. interests in the region.

Yesterday's reception to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, a powerful symbol of the age-old quest for religious freedom, was a most thoughtful and welcome gesture on the part of our Azerbaijani friends.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee